University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Art and Fashion

With other sketches, songs and poems. By Charles Swain
  
  

collapse section 
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
YOUTH AND AGE.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  


251

YOUTH AND AGE.

The proudest poetry of youth
Is—“Would I were a Man!”
The golden years that lie between
Youth, like a dream, would span:
'Tis in its thought—'tis in its heart—
'Tis ever on its tongue;
But oh, the poetry of age,
It is—“When I was young!
Thus, in the morn of life, our feet
Would distant pathways find;
The sun still face to face we meet—
The shadow falls behind!
But when the morn of life is o'er,
And Nature grows less kind;
The length'ning shadow creeps before—
The sunlight falls behind!

252

With many a murmur, slow and sad,
The stream of life flows on;
That which we prized not when we had
Is doubly prized when gone!
And many a sad and solemn truth
Lies written on life's page;
Between the “Poetry of Youth!”
And “Poetry of Age!”